Bulls notes: PK Kloss a Groza semifinalist

TAMPA – University of South Florida junior place-kicker Marvin Kloss was named Monday as one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.

Three finalists will be named Nov. 25 and the winner will be announced on ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12.

Additionally, Kloss was named Monday as the American Athletic Conference special teams player of the week. Kloss made field goals of 39, 50 and 49 yards in Thursday night’s 35-23 loss at Houston.

Kloss has made a school-record 13 consecutive field goals. His percentage of 92.9 (13-for-14) leads the nation for kickers with 11 or more attempts. He is 4-for-4 from 50 yards and beyond.

“Marvin ‘Money’ Kloss has been doing what he’s been doing for this football team all year long,’’ USF coach Willie Taggart said during Monday’s AAC teleconference. “He has been special for us. We’re going to continue to need him as we go through these last four ballgames.’’

“Chris got the ball, just took off and ran without really thinking,’’ Dunkley said. “That was good to see. There wasn’t a lot of hesitation, just running north and south. These were things we haven’t seen all year. Hopefully it will begin to start Chris to (become) the playmaker we all expected him to be.’’

BULLS BITS: USF, which has a bye week, hosts the Memphis Tigers on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPN3. … Taggart said many of the school-record 19 penalties for 170 yards against Houston were correctible. “The ones that kill you are the false starts and holdings,’’ Taggart said. “Those things are just being disciplined.’’ … The offensive pass interference call on WR Andre Davis with 4:06 remaining, which negated a go-ahead 27-yard touchdown pass, was followed by a similar looking play on Houston’s next possession. But the official picked up the flag and waved off the penalty. “The one on our sideline was explained to me and he (official) said there was incidental contact,’’ Taggart said. “Really, that was happening on the other one, too. I think you can get a better answer from the official, but they looked very similar.’’

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